Washington D.C. - Sophomore guard Ace Valentine delivered a game-winning driving layup with 24 seconds remaining in double overtime as the UMBC men's basketball squad pulled out a gutsy 96-93 non-conference victory on Sunday evening at Bender Arena. 

"We've had a lot of close games this year," said UMBC Head Coach Jim Ferry. "To come back and be in this situation today after losing at Marist in overtime last week was exactly what we needed. Being able to make the plays we needed to win the game is really going to help us moving forward as we open conference play in January."

Senior guard Marcus Banks Jr. (team-high nine rebounds) matched his career high with 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including 6-for-13 from three-point territory. Valentine, who scored seven points in overtime, finished with 17 points and a game-high nine assists.  Senior guard Bryce Johnson (19 points) and graduate student forward Josh Odunowo (18 points) were also in double figures.

The contest featured 14 lead changes and 15 ties.  UMBC held a 41-40 lead at halftime after falling behind by as many as seven points midway through the opening stanza.  The Retrievers led by as many as eight points in the second half.

American's Matt Rogers scored 33 points and grabbed 10 boards before fouling out in the second overtime session.

UMBC finished the non-conference portion of its schedule with an 8-7 record, while the Eagles fell to 6-7.

Trailing 64-63 with 7:25 left in regulation, the Retrievers went on an 11-4 burst to take a 74-68 advantage with just 3:05 left. Odunowo scored the final six points of the stretch, including a pair of dunks.

The hosts answered with a 10-2 run to take a 78-76 lead with 18 seconds remaining, but Johnson tied the game six ticks later with a fast break layup. He then made a free throw after he was fouled on the bucket to give UMBC a 79-78 edge.

Colin Smalls was fouled with three seconds left and made one of two from the line to send the game into overtime.

After falling behind in the early stages of the first overtime, Banks Jr. gave the Retrievers an 86-83 edge with a pull-up trifecta at 2:41, but Greg Sprouse responded with a triple on the next possession to even the contest.
 
Valentine put the Retrievers ahead, 88-86, after finishing a nifty layup with just under a minute left, but Rogers scored in the paint to force a second extra session.

UMBC never trailed in the second overtime, but American had an opportunity to grab the lead after a turnover by the Retrievers with 1:23 left. However, Matt Mayock missed a layup with 49 seconds left, and Valentine then drove down the center of the lane and finished the go-ahead bucket from underneath the right side of the rim. "Coach {Ferry} drew up a play to get me going downhill using a screen," Valentine explained. "I just saw the space, went with my strong hand, which I have a lot of confidence in, and used the glass to make the layup."

Smalls misfired on a 3-pointer with ten seconds left, and senior forward Marlon Short was able to snare the rebound. Valentine was fouled with just five ticks left, setting up the final sequence of events.

Valentine hit the first to give UMBC a three-point edge, but missed on the second, allowing the hosts a final opportunity to force a third overtime. Sprouse's desperation turnaround 3-pointer was well off the mark as time expired.

Notes

• UMBC shot 52.8 percent from the floor (38-of-72) and are now 6-1 this season when they hit the mark.
• The Retrievers dished 21 assists and have recorded 20+ helpers three times this season.
• Banks Jr, has already made 5+ treys in five different contests this season. He leads the America East with 48 bombs (3.2 per game).
• Banks Jr. is now 60 points shy of 1,000 for his career. He's scored 700 points in just his second season as a Retriever.
• Valentine has reached double-figures in scoring in four of his last five contests. The nine handouts were the second-most of his career (11).
• This was UMBC's second consecutive overtime contest after falling at Marist last weekend. UMBC played four straight overtime games during the 2013-2014 season. It was the last time the Retrievers played back-to-back OT games before Sunday's contest.
• Johnson needs 12 points to reach 900 for his career. He's averaging 21.0 ppg. over his last three contests.
• Johnson drew a career-high nine fouls and leads the team with 62 on the season (4.1 per game).